Not Paying Tickets Could Lead to Jail Time
Unpaid fines for speeding tickets, underage drinking, and disorderly conduct will no longer be swept under the rug. If you're a violator, those outstanding citations will now land you behind bars.
Over the past few years the Portage County Clerk of Courts says they have lost out on more than $1 million in fine money they should have received. In an attempt to get this money back, the county is taking drastic measures. The county will be issuing warrants via mail to those who have failed to pay their fines.
The warrants are nothing new when it comes to alerting residents. In the past, those who have a criminal case against them would receive such a notice for their failure to pay anyway. Now, the county is taking it a step further.
Portage County Clerk of Courts, Patricia Baker says the county cannot afford to continue losing out on money. "If they have a speeding ticket or traffic ticket they may have a warrant issued. If they've had a forfeiture, or in other words underage drinking or disorderly conduct charges, they must suffer the consequence of a warrant against them."
Baker says that it’s unfair for other citizens to pay their taxes and follow laws, and have others who completely disregard them.
Clerk of Courts Baker says the county has put together a list of more than 4,000 names of people who have unpaid fines. Many of those people are second and third time offenders and this mailing notice is meant to get their attention.
If you are one of the violators you'll be receiving a postcard in the mail later this month. You’ll have two weeks to pay it. If not, you’ll most likely be serving time behind bars.
